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NEW YORK MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN ATTEMPTED MURDER OF HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF LIEUTENANT

Date: May 19, 2026
Re: State vs. Juan Quiroz-Manzueta

On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Juan Quiroz-Manzueta, 22, of New York, entered a guilty plea in front of the Honorable Judge Kevin J. Mahoney in the Circuit Court of Harford County to one count of Attempted First Degree Murder, one count of Second Degree Burglary, one of count of Attempt by Driver to Elude Police in an Official Police Vehicle, and one count of Failing to Stop a Vehicle after an Attended Property Damage Accident.

Facts presented in support of the plea proved that on the morning of August 26, 2025, Lieutenant Robert Burgess observed a white Penske box truck driving erratically on Route 136 in Harford County. At that time, he activated his emergency equipment to initiate a traffic stop, the driver failed to stop and led law enforcement on a 36-minute vehicle pursuit across multiple roads in the county. During the pursuit, the driver of that vehicle, Juan Quiroz-Manzueta, drove recklessly at unsafe speeds, crossed over medians, and, most notably, traveled the wrong way on several occasions, including multiple times on Interstate 95. At a minimum, six cars were struck by the Defendant as he weaved in and out of traffic attempting to evade law enforcement, and failed to stop after any of those collisions. During that time, other deputies led the pursuit, and Lt. Burgess, later with the help of a Maryland State Police trooper, positioned themselves on Interstate 95 to deploy stop sticks in an attempt to stop the vehicle. As the Defendant approached, he deliberately avoided the tire deflation devices, striking civilian vehicles in the process. Lt. Burgess sought cover, and it was at that time that the defendant deliberately struck Lt. Burgess’ vehicle, swerved directly at him and struck him, sending him 30 feet through the air and an additional 30-plus feet down the asphalt, nearly taking his life. The Defendant still failed to stop despite striking a human being and continued to flee. Eventually, Sgt. Henize of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) terminated the pursuit and safely conducted a Precision Immobilization Technique, which is a law enforcement tactic used to safely and forcefully stop a fleeing vehicle, guiding it off the roadway and into the woods. The Defendant exited his vehicle, fled through the woods and managed to further evade arrest at that time.

Investigation later revealed that the Defendant burglarized the Applebee’s in Aberdeen and stole cooking oil from that location. He then attempted to steal additional cooking oil from the Royal Farms on Route 22. Both incidents occurred just prior to Lt. Burgess’ attempted traffic stop on the vehicle. The Defendant was transporting the cooking oil in the truck as well as the hose he used to siphon the oil to steal it. Due to the swift and thorough investigation of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the Defendant was immediately identified, located, and arrested the very next day in New Rochelle, New York.

As a result of the conviction, the Defendant was sentenced to Life in Prison, all suspended but forty (40) years to serve, which is a significant upward deviation from the recommended Maryland Sentencing guidelines of only fifteen (15) to twenty-five (25) years.

Following the hearing, State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey held a press conference where she issued the following statement: “The sentencing guidelines in this case were only 15 – 25 years, which were completely insufficient for both the crimes the Defendant committed that day as well as the amount of peril in which the Defendant placed all of our citizens on the roadway that day. We are proud that we were able to obtain a sentence that is 15 years above the top of the sentencing guidelines and more than double the bottom of the range for the guidelines.

I want to significantly commend Detective Phillip Golden and the entire Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, as well as Detective Lightner and the Aberdeen Police Department Criminal Investigation Division, for their efforts in investigating this case. In addition, Harford County law enforcement and supervisors from all agencies countywide demonstrated sheer excellence in the team effort to bring this dangerous pursuit to a close. I cannot say enough how much I appreciate the sacrifices that our law enforcements make each and every day to ensure the safety of this county. They put their lives on the line for each and every one of us.

Most importantly, I am incredibly grateful to report that Lieutenant Burgess was able to be here with us today in Court to address the Court in a victim impact statement. He sustained significant injuries as a result of the Defendant’s actions – a severe concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury, a collapsed lung with 12 displaced ribs and one broken rib requiring nine metal plates, a dislocated collarbone, a broken left forearm requiring a metal plate, four fractured vertebrae in his back, road rash covering his body, two large lacerations on his head, and additional internal bleeding. Despite those injuries, he thankfully survived this horrific incident. He will, however, be likely to deal with the lasting effects of his injuries for the rest of his life. His bravery and service to Harford County are to be honored.

As State’s Attorney, I remain committed to my sole focus and priority, which is the public safety of Harford County and ensuring that dangerous offenders like Juan Quiroz-Manzueta face significant consequences for the threat they pose to our community. This is what the citizens of Harford County elected me to do, and we have repeatedly shown that we will stop at nothing to remove violent offenders from our streets. Today, we once again did just that. This sentence is a swift and certain message to those who contemplate committing crimes in Harford County. No sentence obtained in this case would ever be enough to compensate Lieutenant Burgess for the injuries he sustained that day. We are so fortunate that he did not lose his life that day protecting our community, but this is a reminder that all our law enforcement officers willingly do everything they can every day to protect our citizens. So, to all our law enforcement partners, I profoundly thank you for your service to Harford County. In the Circuit Court for Harford County, today, justice was served.”

NOTTINGHAM WOMAN CONVICTED IN HOA THEFT SCHEME

Date: May 14, 2026
Re: State vs. Sarah Chester

On Monday, May 11, 2026, Sarah Chester, 44, of Nottingham, pled guilty to one count of Theft Scheme over $100,000, one count of Forgery and Counterfeit – Private Documents, and one count of Embezzlement, before the Honorable Paul W. Ishak in the Circuit Court for Harford County. Chester was sentenced to twenty (20) years, all suspended with five (5) years to serve. She was taken into custody to begin her sentence immediately following the hearing. Restitution in this case, which is expected to reach nearly $600,000, will be left open for thirty (30) days to allow the State the opportunity to verify the contact information and amounts from the various affected homeowners associations.

Facts presented in support of the plea proved that between 2021 and 2025, several homeowners associations in both Harford and Baltimore Counties hired the Defendant and her company, Magnolia Properties, to manage the HOAs and their funds. Evidence showed that over approximately a five-year period, the Defendant ran a Ponzi scheme. She syphoned monies from each HOA into her personal accounts. Chester utilized the funds for trips to Europe, country club memberships, and more. She also created fake bank statements to hide her theft and transferred money between HOA accounts to replenish stolen funds in others. Over the course of a five-year period, the thefts affected over 250 households and approximately 1,500 individuals.

Over 50 residents from various communities affected by the Defendant’s actions attended the hearing. At the conclusion, State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey issued the following statement: “To be placed in a position of trust by your community only to violate that trust in such an egregious way is despicable and behavior that will not be tolerated in Harford County. I commend the work of Assistant State’s Attorney Ari Kodeck for his efforts in securing a jail sentence in this case, as well as ensuring that restitution is ordered and these communities will one day be made whole.”

State’s Attorney Healey also thanks the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and Detective Sergent for their efforts in the investigation of this highly complex white-collar case and recognizes the tremendous amount of work and collaboration that was required to ensure that justice was served.

ABINGDON MAN CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

Date: April 17, 2026
Re: State v. David Williams

On Friday, April 17, 2026, David Williams, 67, of Abingdon, was convicted of First Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in a Felony or Crime of Violence, Possession of a Regulated Firearm By a Prohibited Person, Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person, and Impairing the Verity or Availability of Physical Evidence following a five-day jury trial before the Honorable Judge Alex Allman in the Circuit Court for Harford County. The Defendant will remain in custody at the Harford County Detention Center until his sentencing hearing, which will be scheduled after a Pre-Sentence Investigation.

Facts presented in the trial proved that on June 30, 2025, Lillian Williams was shot and killed in the upstairs of her Abingdon home. At the time of the murder, her husband, David Williams, was the only other occupant of the residence. After the murder, the Defendant left the victim in the residence to drive around and took the gun with him. Approximately an hour later, he returned to the residence after he discarded the gun in a wooded area and finally called 911 for assistance. He relayed pieces of the story to dispatchers and denied any knowledge of the details of the shooting. Despite the efforts of first responders, the victim had no pulse at the time of arrival and was pronounced deceased.

At the time of their response, Williams provided multiple stories to the responding deputies but allowed them access to his RING doorbell camera. He was eventually transported to the Criminal Investigation Division for further interviewing. There, his story changed again, and he claimed that the victim produced the weapon and that the gun simply went off during a struggle. An autopsy was conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which determined the victim’s manner of death to be a homicide. They also determined that the gun was fired from approximately one to three feet away. During their testimony, the Medical Examiner testified that the findings of the autopsy were not consistent with a struggle.

Warrants were also executed on the Defendant’s home and RING camera. Detectives recovered multiple gun cases, multiple types of ammunition, and a handgun holster from the Defendant’s bedroom. The videos from the RING camera on the night of the incident showed the Defendant kicking in the front door to gain access to the home, then calmly and repeatedly exiting and entering the home in the moments following the shooting. Other evidence presented also showed that the Defendant called a friend who resided out of State and advised that he had been in an altercation with a man that resulted in the man’s death.

Following the conviction, State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey offered the following comment: “After our prosecutors persisted through this five-day jury trial, we are thrilled with the First-Degree Murder conviction of David Williams, along with convictions on all other counts charged, ensuring justice is served for the death of Lillian Williams, the victim of this tragic, domestically-related homicide. It is the worst kind of betrayal and violence when a Defendant takes the life of someone with whom they have an intimate relationship. While the result of this case will never bring Ms. Williams back, it is my hope that the convictions in this case will bring some peace to her family in knowing that the person responsible for her death will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law and is likely to spend the rest of his life behind bars.”

Ms. Healey extends her sincere gratitude to Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Allen and Assistant State’s Attorney Jenn Alvarez for their preparation, diligence, commitment, and advocacy in the prosecution of this case. She also commends the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation of this case and especially thanks Deputies Alba, Elliot, and Distance of the Patrol Division, former Deputy and current Pentagon Police Officer Perez, Detectives Kaminiski and Golden and Forensic Lab Director Orchowitz of the Criminal Investigation Division for their assistance with the presentation of this case at trial. Finally, she recognizes the collaborative efforts of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and Harford County Emergency Services.

911 DISPATCHER SENTENCED IN DUI

Date: April 16, 2026
Re: State v. Nadene Smith

On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Nadene Letonya Smith, 42, of Reisterstown, entered into a plea agreement and was found guilty of Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol and Fleeing and Eluding by Failing to Stop before the Honorable Judge Donald Walter in the District Court for Harford County. At that time, sentencing was postponed at the request of the Defense and was scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026.

The facts presented in support of the plea proved that on November 16, 2025, deputies of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office observed a dark colored SUV traveling east on Philadelphia Road, driving over the double solid yellow lines and ultimately reversing in the middle of a roundabout after traveling in the wrong direction. Deputy Kanner positioned himself behind the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop. However, the vehicle continued to drive through the center of the roundabout. A pursuit was initiated as the vehicle continued down Philadelphia Road, into another roundabout, lost control, traveled off the roadway, and came to rest in a grassy area, disabling the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was identified as the Defendant, Nadene Smith. Smith was ordered to exit the vehicle, and Deputies observed her stumbling and falling upon her exit prior to being detained. Deputies further observed the Defendant’s eyes red and glassy and her speech slurred. When asked where she was coming from, the Defendant originally declined to answer but eventually did state that she was a 911 dispatcher coming from a co-worker’s bonfire where she consumed two drinks that were 16% Alcohol by Volume. Smith consented to standardized field sobriety testing, where multiple observations indicated impairment. Following these tests, Smith refused to submit to a breath test to measure her blood alcohol levels. As a result of her standardized field sobriety testing and the observations of Deputies, she was placed under arrest. Following her arrest, Smith became belligerent with the Deputies, all of which was captured on the in-car camera footage during the arrest.

Due to the egregious nature of the Defendant’s conduct, including but not limited to her driving, failure to stop, impairment by alcohol, and her behavior during and after arrest, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa Moloney highlighted these as aggravating factors and advocated for incarceration despite the Defendant’s lack of record and this being her first offense. The Honorable Judge Donald Walter agreed and imposed a sentence of two (2) years, all suspended but forty-five (45) days to serve.

State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey issued the following statement at the conclusion of the hearing: “Driving Under the Influence is a criminal offense that puts innocent victims at risk and one that my office always takes seriously. Some, but not all, first-time offenses result in probationary findings with conditions for treatment. However, when you couple that dangerous behavior with fleeing and eluding and mistreatment and threats directed toward our county’s law enforcement, incarceration becomes the only acceptable consequence, despite the Defendant’s lack of record. The Defendant’s behavior in this case was egregious, and we are grateful that Judge Walter agreed with us in imposing his sentence. I also thank Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa Moloney for her pursuit of justice and advocacy in this case and extend my sincere gratitude to our incredible law enforcement who put their lives on the line each day to protect the citizens of this county and show enormous levels of professionalism when dealing with the challenges of criminal behavior on our streets.”

ABINGDON WOMAN CONVICTED ABOVE SENTENCING GUIDELINES IN MULTIPLE RETAIL THEFT CASES

Date: March 23, 2026
Re: State v. Jessica Mary Hubbard

On Friday, March 13, 2026, Jessica Mary Hubbard, 33, of Abingdon, Maryland pled guilty to Organized Retail Theft, Theft Scheme, Second Degree Assault, and two counts of Theft having a value between $100 and $1,500 in four criminal cases before the Honorable Judge Paul Ishak in the Circuit Court for Harford County.

Facts presented in support of the plea proved that on multiple dates between August 2025 and January 2026, the Defendant stole merchandise from numerous Harford County locations. including BJ’s Wholesale Club, Kohl’s, Target, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Walmart, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, totaling $8,395.06. Hubbard would enter these locations, fill her cart with merchandise, pass all points of sale, and make no effort to pay prior to exiting the stores. Following a coordinated investigative effort with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and loss prevention at each of the named locations, Hubbard was arrested and charged.

Following the conviction, the Defendant was sentenced to fifteen (15) years of incarceration, suspending all but five (5) years to serve, followed by three years of supervised probation upon release. She was also banned from the named locations and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,747.37. This was a significant upward deviation from this Defendant’s Maryland Sentencing guidelines, which suggested a sentence of probation to two years of incarceration. This sentence, at the recommendation of Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa Moloney, was two and a half times more than the top of those guidelines.

State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey issued the following statement at the conclusion of the hearing: “In Harford County, we aggressively pursue justice in all criminal matters, big and small. I commend the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for taking a zero-tolerance approach to retail theft as we continue our partnership to ensure safe communities. All crimes impact public safety, regardless of their nature. I would also like to thank Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa Moloney for her commitment and advocacy in this case. A tremendous amount of time and effort goes into these convictions which involve multiple incidents. I am thankful for the efforts and partnerships of all those involved that brought these cases to a close. Let this be a strong message from the Harford County law enforcement team that there is no such thing as a “smaller crime” in Harford County. If you break the law, you will be held accountable under my administration.”

FIRST DEGREE CHILD ABUSE CONVICTION

On February 27, 2026, Defendant Alex Lawson, 34, of Havre de Grace, pled guilty to First Degree Child Abuse (Severe Physical Injury) and Second Degree Child Abuse. He was sentenced to forty (40) years suspend all but twenty-two (22) years to serve in the Division of Corrections. Upon his release from incarceration, he will be on five (5) years of supervised probation. The Defendant is the father of the victim, who is now eleven months old.

Facts presented in support of the plea showed that on June 24, 2025, Harford County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a call for service involving a 12-week-old baby girl in cardiac arrest. The baby was rushed to Upper Chesapeake Hospital and was subsequently flown to Nemours Children’s Hospital for further lifesaving treatment. It was discovered that she suffered from bilateral subdural hemorrhaging on her brain, bleeding on both sides of her brain, an occipital fracture, a skull fracture, a hemorrhage in her spine, and too numerous retinal hemorrhages to count. The medical team identified all these injuries as non-accidental trauma. She was intubated and remained in Nemours Children’s Hospital until July 11, 2025, where she also suffered from seizures as a result of the trauma she endured from the Defendant.

Harford County Sheriff’s Office Detective Scurto, who is assigned to the Child Advocacy Center, conducted an investigation. The evidence showed that the Defendant abused the victim on several occasions while alone with her. The abuse included the Defendant violently shaking the victim between his legs, causing her head to forcefully bounce back and forth between his knees, whipping her with a swaddling blanket, and throwing her onto a pillow causing her body to violently bounce. In addition, the Defendant picked the victim up by one leg and flipped her over before tossing her onto the sofa and also pushed and bent her body in half before carrying her. As a direct result of the Defendant’s assaults and abuse, the victim has permanent physical injury, although the exact extent of those injuries is not fully known at this time.

Following the conviction, State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey issued the following statement: “There is perhaps nothing more important than protecting our community’s most vulnerable victims, our children. The collaborative efforts of our prosecutors, support staff, and the law enforcement officers in the Harford County Child Advocacy Center are a testament to the commitment, skill, and passion of those who have dedicated their lives to being champions for the children that need it most. It is our hope that this sentence will ensure that this young victim will never be at risk of harm at the hands of this Defendant again.” State’s Attorney Healey expresses her gratitude to Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Christina Cuomo, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Allen, Detective Scurto, and all the Child Advocacy Center staff who fought for justice on behalf of this victim and her family.

BEL AIR MAN INDICTED IN RELATION TO SEPTEMBER 2025 FATAL VEHICLE COLLISION INVOLVING TWO C. MILTON WRIGHT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

BALTIMORE MAN FACES LIFE IN PRISON FOLLOWING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONVICTION

Date: January 16, 2026
Re: State v. Theodore Richards, Jr.

On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Theodore Richards, Jr., 40, of Baltimore, was convicted of Attempted Second Degree Murder, Attempted First Degree Rape, Attempted Second Degree Rape, and First Degree Assault following a four-day jury trial before the Honorable Paul W. Ishak in the Circuit Court for Harford County.

Evidence presented at trial proved that on June 26, 2025, at approximately 11:18 p.m., law enforcement responded to a reported assault at a residence in Edgewood, Maryland. Officers made contact with the victim, who reported a series of escalating incidents involving her former partner, Theodore Richards Jr. The victim explained that on June 23, 2025, she ended her relationship with Richards following an altercation several days prior. In the days that followed, Richards repeatedly contacted her through phone calls and text messages, including from alternate phone numbers after being blocked and threatened to show up at her home uninvited.

On the evening of June 26, 2025, the victim arrived home with her three minor children and found Richards waiting outside. Despite being told to leave, he continued to attempt to speak with her. Out of concern for her children’s safety, the victim later took them to her mother’s home. When she returned alone to her residence later that night, Richards ambushed her from behind a bush and chased her around her vehicle. He grabbed her wrist, followed her to the front door, restrained her by the waist, and kissed her neck despite her repeated verbal objections. Richards continued to request entry into the home, which the victim denied.

After the victim entered her residence, the Defendant forced his way inside and continued to assault the victim by pushing and grabbing her, tearing her underwear, and making statements indicating an intent to force sexual intercourse. He ultimately physically restrained her on the couch. Once he had the victim pinned to the couch, Richards placed his hands around her neck multiple times, impeding her ability to breathe, and attempted to gouge out her left eye with his thumb. Throughout the assault, he made repeated threats to kill her. The victim fought back during the assault, causing a laceration to Richards with keys she had in her hand. An associate of Richards arrived at the residence and intervened, urging him to leave before the police arrive. Both men left the scene shortly before law enforcement arrived.

Officers observed physical injuries to the victim that were consistent with strangulation and assault as well as blood inside the residence. There was also damage to the living room consistent with a struggle. Ring doorbell footage corroborated events outside the home and captured Richards making a homicidal threat as he was leaving.

Sentencing has been set for April 2, 2026, at which time the Defendant faces a maximum penalty of a life sentence plus thirty years of incarceration. Following the conviction, State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey made the following comment: “As a former domestic violence prosecutor myself, the prosecution of these cases will always be meaningful to me. No person should ever live in fear of their partner or ex-partner, and a person’s home should be their safe harbor. Violating that safety and security is inexcusable. We will stop at nothing to hold domestic violence offenders, such as this Defendant, accountable, so they are never again free to put another person at risk. I commend Assistant State’s Attorney Logan Hayes for her valiant effort in this case, but also for generally being a constant champion for our domestic violence victims. These cases can be extremely challenging to prosecute, and her efforts have surely resulted in a positive impact on the lives of those she’s touched and the community as a whole.”

State’s Attorney Healey further commends Detective DeFazio, Deputy First Class Szczepanski, and Digital Forensic Examiner Waltimyer of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for their efforts in the investigation of this case, which ultimately led to this successful prosecution.

ABERDEEN MAN CONVICTED IN RELATION TO OCTOBER 2023 SHOOTING

Date: January 7, 2026
Re: State v. Alexander Maszkiewicz

On Monday, December 22, 2025, Alexander Maszkiewicz, 27, of Aberdeen, was sentenced to twenty-five (25) years of incarceration, suspending all but eighteen (18) years to serve by the Honorable Diane Adkins-Tobin in connection with an October 2023 shooting in Aberdeen, Maryland.

Following a three-day jury trial, Maszkiewicz was convicted by a jury on November 4, 2025, after the State proved that on October 18, 2023, approximately ten gunshots were fired in the 100 block of New County Road in Aberdeen. At the time of the incident, no witnesses or victims came forward, and the investigation initially went cold.

Despite the lack of immediate leads, Detective Lightner of the Aberdeen Police Department continued to pursue the case. In mid-2024, Detective Lightner received a critical ballistics lead that identified a possible suspect as Alexander Maszkiewicz. Through diligent and persistent investigative work, Detective Lightner was able to locate the Glock 43X used in the shooting and ultimately charge Maszkiewicz in relation to the shooting. Following the presentation of evidence in this case, the jury deliberated for 90 minutes, returning guilty verdicts against the Defendant on all charges presented, to include Illegal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Handgun on a Person, and Reckless Endangerment. The Defendant’s Maryland Sentencing Guidelines suggested a period of incarceration of five (5) to eight (8) years of incarceration. However, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Joel Muneses was able to successfully argue for an upward deviation of the sentence in this case.

Following the sentencing State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey issued the following statement: “This case underscores the dedication of local law enforcement and further reinforces my office’s ongoing commitment and collaborative approach with law enforcement to investigate, charge, and convict violent offenders. Our focus continues to be protecting the citizens of Harford County by holding violent offenders accountable, even when cases begin with few leads.” State’s Attorney Healey further commends Detective Lightner on his outstanding investigative work in this case and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Joel Muneses for his unwavering dedication to justice.

NEW YORK MAN INDICTED IN RELATION TO AUGUST 2025 INCIDENT INJURING HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE LIEUTENANT

On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, Juan Yahir Quiroz Manzueta was indicted by a Harford County Grand Jury following his extradition from the state of New York on Attempted First Degree Murder, Second Degree Burglary, Hit and Run Causing Serious Bodily Injury, and various related offenses in connection with the incident occurring on August 26, 2025, injuring Harford County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Robert Burgess.

The Defendant is currently held at the Harford County Detention Center pending trial. The trial date has not yet been set. As in all criminal matters, Manzueta is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.